Im starting this thread to mainly help me keep notes on my games that Im playing, and therefore increase my attention to detail and have a writeup to submit to the HOF. I also figured it might be helpful, maybe not, for other players, so I posted here rather than the HOF forum. Im no civ master a la Sir Pleb, but Im above average and I hope you pick up something. The CFC forums are a great place to improve your game.

I played a Sid game a couple days ago as the Iroquois on a tiny pangea. The goal is to beat DaveMcW's 130 BC win. With fast domination the concept is pretty simple, expand as much as possible and then build up enough military, finagle the AI into fighting each other, and pick your target.

Cold and wet are good conditions to slow the AI down, and will only help you. I picked two non agricultural civs to play against, Portugal and the Mongols (Public Enemies Nos. 1 & 2). What I need for a good start is of course fresh water to grow above size 6 w/o an aqueduct (I dont plan on researching construction or gettting to the Middle Ages), a food bonus, and eventually horses for my mounted warriors.

Heres the start I chose:

Obviously I have two food bonuses, one wheat and the forest once Ive chopped and irrigated it. I waste a bonus grassland by moving NE and settling on it, but I want to start getting settlers out and doing a minimum research on the wheel to find horses.

The research strategy is simple. Do a minimum research on the wheel and build up gold. Once I have the wheel, I trade for Warrior Code, and then do a min research on horseback riding, though I might speed that up if an opportunity presents itself to attack a neighbor. Since it is 80 turns from 4000 BC to 1000 BC, I hope to be in top military shape at 800 or so BC at the latest. If you get a good price and have enough chariots ready to go, trading for HBR is feasible. You also need to acquire writing (the Iro start with alphabet) so that you can initiate military alliances. Picking up bronze working for spears somewhere along the way is helpful as well, but thats about it. After that you can set research to 0 and crank up your luxury slider as needed.

Heres my 1000 BC screen, a lot is going on.

Once discovering the wheel, the Iroquois people were happy to report that we had not one, not two, but 3 sources of horses! We also had some wines with which to barter with the enemies. Further good luck was that the Mongols (you can always count on them to attack somebody and hope it isnt you) were at war with the Portuguese, who were situated north of me, though I had done literally no exploring at this point. I paid the Mong gold per turn for bronze working as some insurance not to attack me, which is always prudent I think, though they sometimes decide to attack anyway. The Mong established an embassy with me, and once I have writing and HBR I will get an alliance with them vs. the Portuguese. The Mongolian hordes feature swordsman as well, which means they have iron. Not too great for me as they are my close neighbor but their time will come.

It is now 470 BC. We have taken one portuguese city in the North, and made a foolish attempt at their capitol (which was situated on a hill) to the North. The Mongols were still at war with them, with almost all their forces in the North.

At a meeting in Hiawatha's palace, a single rogue general suggested that the Iroquois nation should attack the Mongols, who had been friendly with them up until this point, and even gave them a right of passage. Hiawatha was taken aback at this outlandish suggestion. "The Mongol nation is mighty! They have many swordsmen and completed the Great Wall of Mongolia in TaTu! And we are still at war with the Portuguese! We would have no chance at victory."

"Ah," said the general. "All of this is true except for the no chance part. We currently have 13 mounted warriors up near their capitol, and another dozen or so near TaTu. My plan is to make peace with the Portuguese, and in the same turn declare and burn their capitol city with its many wonders, along with Tatu and its Great Wall. Then run like hell and hold the chokepoint where TaTu used to be. My military advisor has informed me that 7 spears are in Karakorum w/ 3 catapults. If our warriors can destroy that city, the Mongols would be caught with their pants down and would be hurting. We could then take the cities between our chokepoint and our nation rather easily, giving us complete control of the east."

"My what a plan," spoke Hiawatha. "I have long coveted the hun spices to our west. Come let us smoke the tobacco and herbs and we will further perfect your plan."

too bad you got your GA in despotism. Good story. I like the suspense

I like that mod that makes your terrain look different. Where did you get it?

I believe that is Snoopy's Terrain pack.

Very good take those mongols down!

Yes that is snoopy's terrain pack (i have it)

Thank you! :D :D

Oh, nice story! I'm anticipating the next chapter :)

Great game!
too bad you got your GA in despotism. He's going to win before 130BC, so there's not much choise.